Doosan Bears Secure 2nd Straight Win Over Samsung Behind Benjamin's Solid Pitching, Solidifying 5th Place

The Doosan Bears have significantly boosted their chances of advancing to the postseason.

Doosan defeated the Samsung Lions 3-1 in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Jamsil Stadium today (September 16), powered by a strong pitching performance from Wes Benjamin.

Achieving their second consecutive victory, the fifth-placed Doosan widened their lead to 4.5 games over the sixth-placed NC Dinos, who lost today, making their entry into the postseason visible.

In the game featuring a starting pitching duel between Benjamin and Chris Paddack, Doosan drew first blood.

In the bottom of the first inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Doosan's Junior Severino hit a double to center field, driving in two runs.

Samsung struck back in the top of the second inning when Jeon Byung-woo launched a solo home run to center field.

However, Doosan extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Yang Seok-hwan hit a solo home run to left field.

Although they failed to score additional runs afterwards, the pitching staff successfully blocked Samsung's pursuit.

For Doosan, starting pitcher Benjamin allowed 1 run on 3 hits with 8 strikeouts over 5 innings, followed by scoreless relief from Takada Takuto (1 2/3 innings), Kim Taek-yeon (1 1/3 innings), and Lee Young-ha (1 inning) to seal the team's victory.

In Daejeon, the league-leading KT Wiz, who had been on a seven-game winning streak, and the eighth-placed Hanwha Eagles, who were mired in a four-game losing streak, engaged in an 11-inning fierce battle that ended in a 4-4 tie.

Hanwha led until the middle of the game with Ryu Hyun-jin starting on the mound.

In the bottom of the third inning, Hanwha's Lee Do-yoon drew a walk, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and was brought home by Choi In-ho's single to center field to open the scoring.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded following three walks, third base runner Lee Do-yoon crossed home plate on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

KT, which was limited to just 2 hits through six innings, turned the game around immediately after Hanwha starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin left the game and the bullpen took over in the top of the seventh inning.

With one out and runners on first and third, Huh Kyung-min and Lee Jung-hoon delivered consecutive hits to tie the game, and then Oh Yoon-seok hit an infield single to take a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the eighth inning, pinch hitter Jang Jin-hyuk added a run with a double to right field.

However, Hanwha's Park Jung-hyun blasted a dramatic two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 4-4.

Afterward, both teams engaged in a battle until the 11th inning but failed to break the tie.

Ryu Hyun-jin pitched 2 scoreless hits with 9 strikeouts, but the bullpen blew the win.

Nevertheless, Ryu took consolation in becoming the 7th player in KBO League history to surpass 1,600 strikeouts.

In Changwon, the third-placed LG Twins crushed the NC Dinos 9-2 to extend their winning streak to four games.

LG drew first blood in the top of the second inning with one out and runners on first and third when Goo Bon-hyuk successfully executed a squeeze bunt.

NC, which missed scoring opportunities due to grounding into double plays in every inning, turned the tables in the bottom of the fourth inning when Park Kun-woo smashed a two-run homer to center field to make it 2-1.

However, LG tied the game in the top of the fifth with one out and the bases loaded when Song Chan-eui was hit by a pitch, and Moon Jung-bin followed with a sacrifice fly to turn it around 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, with one out and the bases loaded, they added two more runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Moon Jung-bin.

Moon Jung-bin piled up 5 RBIs, including a three-run homer in the top of the ninth that put the game away.

Foreign pitcher Mike Clevinger, whom NC brought in as a late-season competitive move, allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks over 3 innings before stepping down.

In Busan, the SSG Landers defeated the Lotte Giants 4-1.

For Lotte, Victor Reyes hit a double in the bottom of the fourth, and Jeon Min-jae brought him home with a single to right field to take a 1-0 lead.

Trailing behind, SSG tied the game in the top of the sixth with KIM JAE HWAN's solo home run, followed by Jeon Eui-san's solo shot to right field to turn the game around 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, they secured the momentum by adding two runs on Guillermo Heredia's sacrifice fly and Go Myung-jun's timely hit.

SSG starting pitcher Pedro Ávila earned his 7th win (1 loss) of the season with a dominant performance, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 11 strikeouts through 7 innings.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.